BACB ACE Provider · OP-14-2437• Founded 2010• 32,000+ customers since 2010• 140+ countries• V-CAT Consultation

Store Sign in ES

For families · plain language

Autism, answered plainly

Thirteen questions families actually ask, each answered on its own page. No jargon, no miracle cures, and nothing you have to buy to read them. Start wherever you're at.

Start free More for parents & caregivers →

Just diagnosed

The first days, when nothing's sunk in yet.

My child was just diagnosed. What do I do?The honest first steps, and the things you can safely ignore for now. What happens next after a diagnosis?Referrals, waitlists and paperwork — what actually moves and what can wait. A checklist for the first weekShorter than most articles pretend. What has to happen in seven days, and what doesn't. Is there a free guide for parents?Where to start reading when you've no background and no time.

Getting services and school

Evaluations, therapy hours, school plans, and the conversations in between.

How many hours of ABA therapy does my child need?ABA hours come from a BCBA assessment, not a menu. What practice guidance says about focused and comprehensive treatment, and what should drive the number. How do I get an autism evaluation for my child?Three routes: a pediatrician referral to a diagnosing specialist, free early intervention under age 3, or your school district at 3 and older. What to bring. How do I tell my child they have autism?Tell your child in small, concrete conversations about how their brain works. What to say, what to avoid, siblings, and when to involve the clinician. IEP or 504 plan: which one does my child with autism need?An IEP under IDEA buys specialized instruction and services. A 504 plan under Section 504 buys accommodations. How to tell which one your child qualifies for. What happens at my child's first ABA session?First ABA sessions are assessment and rapport building, not therapy. What to expect, your job, what the treatment plan must contain, and the red flags.

Daily life and the years ahead

Early signs, paying for therapy, meltdowns, sleep, and planning for adulthood.

My autistic child will not sleep. What actually helps?Sleep trouble is common in autistic children. What causes it, a routine that works, a sleep diary, and when to call the pediatrician. Is this a meltdown or a tantrum, and what do I do?A meltdown is nervous system overload, not a bid for something. Here is how to tell it apart from a tantrum and what to do in the moment. What do I need to plan for my autistic teen's adulthood?Transition planning starts at 14: IEP goals by 16, vocational rehab, what changes at 18, and skills to teach your teen now. Is my toddler showing early signs of autism?Differences in pointing, play, and response to their name by 12 to 24 months are worth a formal screen. What to watch for and what to do this week. How do I pay for ABA therapy?Private insurance in most states, Medicaid's EPSDT benefit for children under 21, Medicaid waivers, and TRICARE are the usual ways families pay for ABA.

Not sure where to start?

Tell us who you are and what you're dealing with, and we'll point you at the right page — and hand you the free starting guide that matches, right here on this page.

We ask for your email so we can add you to our free-resources list and point you to what matches what you told us. See our Privacy Policy. We never sell your information.

Telling the people around you

The conversations nobody prepares you for.

How do I explain autism to family?What to say to grandparents, aunts and uncles — and what you owe no one. How do I explain autism to my other child?Words that fit a sibling's age, without making them the helper. My grandchild has autism. How can I help?Following the parents' lead, showing up without fixing, and the double grief no one names.

Everyday life at home

The ordinary days — which are most of them.

What activities help at home?Things you can do this afternoon, with what is already in the house. We're on a waitlist. What do we do meanwhile?Waits run three to twelve months. That time doesn't have to be empty. Would a service dog or a family pet help?What the two actually offer an autistic child, and what they ask of you.

When family life is more complicated

Because it often is, and nobody says so.

I am raising my grandchildA starting guide for grandparents and kinship caregivers stepping into the parent role. Keeping things steady across two homesRoutines that survive a handover, when parents live apart.

If you're a teacher

One page, written for the classroom rather than the clinic.

There's an autistic student in my mainstream classThe small changes that carry the most weight, from someone else's IEP.

Where you are on the journey

Parents & CaregiversA new diagnosis? Start here. Plain-language help for the first days. Grandparents & Extended FamilyYou want to help. Here's where to begin. K-12 Educators & Special EdClassroom-ready strategies for teachers and IEP teams. Behavior Technicians (RBT)The lowest-friction path into the field. Behavior Analysts (BCBA/BCaBA)Continuing education for analysts who keep growing.

Also free

What is autism?A plain-language guide for parents. What is ABA therapy?What it is, what it isn't, and how to judge it. What is an IEP?The school plan, explained without the acronyms. All free resourcesGuides, tools and checklists in one place.